Electrical apparatus



Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,874

r L. M. PHELAN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19' 1922 Jaw/2Z0 as e sga u e 1 UNIITED 'S'T'ATES" LOUIS a. n; rnmmor nnnorr, Wisconsin, assreuon, an manor mm mm A8- srommnrs, or our-nami- 'ro ansonu'rn con-rac-ron seasons-non, a conronarron or rnrrnors, am) our-nuns 'ro nacnnss coarser comrmr, or

omcaoo, rumors, A conronarrou or IL IuoIs.

- nnno'rnrcai; arsenal-Us 7 Application am Janna rpm, inc. 7 Serial a. 530,243.-

My invention relates to electrical appa- Itatus and it has special reference to im rovements in electrical contactmaking evices wherein the conducting terminals orelectrodes, at which-the electrical contact-mak-- ing and breaking operations are-.efiected, are

enclosed in a. container w ich also contains :a compact andcoherent body of current; conducting fluid, through the agency, vof which the said electrodes are brought into. electrical conducting relation with one another. n-

My present invention'refers particularl 1 to electrical contact-making or electrica switching-devices of the character indicated above which are adapted for'commercial operations .and to meetthe requisite service conditions as to current-carrying capacities, voltages, life, reliability, etc v as distinguished from prior c'ontactin that comprise a container having electrodes Q sealed therein and a body of mercury which, 7 on tilting or actuating the container ,in

proper fashion, serves to establish a'n electrical circuit between the said electrodes.

- Theobject of my-pres'ent invention is to 'providlia device, as mentioned above, which is ca ale of opening and closing an electri' circuit an extraordinarily large number .oftimes, ascompared with the contacting devic'esof the prior art, without. under going' substantial deterioration and while operating under service conditions, such as current and volt depend. ability and life, -t at are uire d of electrical apparatus in commercia installations.

-Anot vide an electrical switching device or contactor comprising a bod a suitable container and which will be economical ,to'construct and operate with dependable reliability on commercial voldevices @for use in the laboratory or experimental work been em loyed for closing. and 0 er object oi my invention is to pro of m for bridging gaps between e ectrodes in:

'tactors soon commer- "circuit them. Fromm extensive 4 evices filled with ni- Other advantages of mypresent invention will be hereinafter-pomted out and described; I

.I am aware that it has heretofore been at'anysuoh devices have ever been used comn'iercially for the handling of any sub stantial uantities of electrical current at the usual 'vo t g or been embodied "in commercial -1nstal ations wherein the devices would be subjected to substantial voltagesand currents and possess a suitabl lo (ri en life thereby making such devices able or even technically successful.

Inthe devices, heretofore used and of this "general character, ordinary mercury. has pening the electric circuits between the electrodes. The electrodes in such prior devices have been made of metals of the ial'pugity and'have been in glass containers. Theleading-in of such prior devices, which 1 -in wires did not provide substantial] per-manent hermetic seals 'in the walls of the container and particularly when the leading-in wires were of suflicient size to conduct commercial quantities of electric current, have caused rapid deterioration of the devices since they havewithin the interior of the been exposed usual commersealed containers and when nitrogen or the other gases heretofore used have been em-" ployed to fill the containers, such prior con-- become inoperative-when sub- 'jected to electrical currents of any substaiitial value because of the fact'that deposits would form on the interior of the containers and, in-

would short-circuit the electrodes or a conducting scum would bridge the electrodes or form a-slagor between the electrodes and thereby shortence with such contactcr trogen and other so-called' inert gases of the prior art, I have found that'even whw the ill materials entering into their construction possess a high de ree of purity, the nitrogen or other so-ca led inert gases would react chemicall with the mercury or the electrodes, thereby forming in the event of nitrogen being used, a compound of nitrogen and mercury which deposlted on the inner surfaces of the container. These deposits destroy the dependency and life of the contactor device by reason of such deterioration. Prior contactor devices of this general character when employed commercially have been used only in connection with relays and, of themselves, were not capable of handling any substantial quantity of electrical current throughout a commercially successful life. I am not awarethat such contacting devices as the prior art discloses, were employed successfully in any commercial installations to open and close electrical power circuits where the devices were subjected to operating conditions that required the making and breaking of electrical currents of any substantial value throughout a commercially successful life.

Contactors constructed in accordance with my present invention have been extraordinarily successful as to their life, when subjected to the voltages and current obtainin in commercial installations and, moreover, am usually able to dispense with relay circuits since my present -contactor, of itself, may handle the requisite electrical currents and voltages of power circuits.-

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompaizlyingdrawing, in Whichlgure 1 is an'enlarged view, partially in section, of a contactor embodying a form of my inventiom and Fig. 2 is a view showing the device of Fi 1 in circuit-closing ition.

1 e 'contactor comprises a container 1, such as a glamtube, in which two aced electrodes 2 and 3 are sealed. I have s own i the electrodes 2 and 3 as being disposed at right angles to each other and as closely abutting glass shanks 4 and 5 respectively. But I am not limiting my invention to such a mechanical structure. The leading-in wires 6 and 7 provide means for electrically connecting the elcctrodes.2 and 3 to. their respective accessible terminals 8 and 9; In the specific embodiment. of my invention shown and described herein the leadin -in wires 6 and 7, that are capable of hand ing commercial uantities of current, aremade preferably 0 ,dumet wire which comprises a nickle-iron alloy and insures substantially.

permanent hermetic seals in the hiss container 1 when the seals become heated or when substantially hi h currents traverse the leading-in wires. tie to be understood that I am not to be limited to an specific leading-in wires, since any materia for this the electrodes. that the electrodes 2 and 3 may be made of purpose will be satisfactory as lon as substantially permanent hermetic seals in the container 1 are obtained and providin that the leading-in wires are either of suc material as will-not cause deterioration of the contactor Or are precluded from being exposed within the container 1, as I have herein described. In the s cific embodiment of my invention, the lea ing-in wires 6 and 7, when made of dumet wire,.have no por tions exposed in the interior of the glass container 1 since, after their entry into the walls of the-glass container 1, they are completely embedded in glass. The electrodes 2 and 3 are welded or secured to their respec tive leading-in wires in any suitable. fashion. The only metal exposed to the interior of the container 1 is that of which the electrodes 2 and?) are made or a metal which is permanently non-deteriorating under the conditions obtaining Within the container. The air contents of the container 1 are evacuated to a suitably high degree and the con tainer 1 is then filled with an inert as, such as will be hereinafter described. it freely movable meniscus of mercury 10 is also disposed within the container 1 and this body of mercu serves to make and break the elec trical circuit between the electrodes 2 and 3, as the container 1 is tilted or actuated as shown in Fi- 2. Any suitable means may serve to tilt t e container 1 so as to make and break the electrical circuit between the electrodes 2 and 3 through the agency of the bod of mercury 10.

he glass container 1 which I have illustrated in the contactor of the drawing is made from the quality of lass that is emgloyed for-manufacturing ulbs for incanescent lamps. The electrodes 2 and 3 are made from are metals which are substantially devoi of any impurities. In some instances I construct the electrodes 2 and 3 of substantially pure iron. I also find that pure nickle is very satisfactory under,cer

tain conditions and, of course, tungsten of.

the purity emplo ed in incandescent lamps may. also suflice or some classes of service. It is necessary that neither the metals from which the electrodes are constructed nor the impurities obtaining in these metals enterin- 4 to chemical combination with either the mercury-or the inert gas which I' fill into the container 1, even under the influence of electrio arcs which are occasioned at all times with varying degrees of intensity as the electricaleircl'lit is 0 have mentioned herein metals that are substantially non-amalgamating under the conditions obtaining in my electric switch and, in some instances, I refer to such metals as being of the iron cup, such as iron, nickel and tungsten and, t erefore, by the term 'iron group, as em-.

nod and closed between electro e 2.

sai character. 7 n

The mercury which I embody in my contactor should likewise be of unusual purity. I find that it is very desirable for the mercury .to be of a high degree of purity, since ordinary mercury or mercury which is usually designated commercially as chemically tion in which this gas is employed in my' contactor, as well as the electrical and heat conditions obtaining when my electric switch is subjected to operating conditions it is inert, as this term 1s defined herein.

have found-that by filling hydro en into the container 1, which is preferab y filled with this inert gas to a pressure of substantially one atmosphere, I am able to secure the highly satisfactory results such as I have outlined above, in connection with electrical service conditions to which m contactor tubes are particularly adapte I have found that hydrogen is permanently inert to the materials entering into the construction of my contactor tube, even in the presence of substantial electrlc arcs which are of frequent occurrence when the contactor tube is submitted to operating conditions. I have found that by gen, as the inert gas, the intensity of the arcin which takes place at the electrodes, an particularly at the electrode 2 as the circuit is established and broken when the body of mercur' 10 a ydrogen, by reason of its inertness, also' precludes the pitting of the electrodes 2 and 3 and I have found that with my contactor tubes which have been in operation for a considerable riod of time on circuits handling electrics. currents of substantial values which have beenbro ken a great many thousands of times are not pitted and show no deterioration whatever even under a very high powered microscope. This, of course, is an extraordinary accomplishment, namely that the electrodes remain intact even though they have been subjected to electric arcs of considerable intensity and a very great number of times. I have found that the minimizing of the intensity of the arcing or, rather the arcsnppressing property of hydrogen gas and the absence of pitting and disintegration of the electrodes 2 and 3, referred to above, is brought about by reason of the fact that mercury, in the presence of hydrogen, when plog'ed herein, I mean metals of the storeroaches and recedes from the an arc is established at the iron electrodes wets the said electrodes. After a few makes-and-breaks of the electric current flow through the contactor device, a film of mercury permanently adheres to the electrodes 2 and 3 thereby wetting them. By reason of this mercury film formed on the contact making surfaces of the electrodes 2 and 3, the electric arcing is suppressed or substantially minimized as the body of mercury makes and breaks the electric circuit between theielectrodes. In this manner, arcing at the electrodes is substantially minimized and the electrodes 2 and 3 are protected against pitting and the consequent disintegration because the electric arcs are established and broken between the films of mercury wetting the electrodes 2 and 3' and the meniscus of mercury 10. For this reason, vaporization of the materials within the contactor is minimized except for the vaporization of the mercury and, therefore, no deposits are formed on the interior walls of the tube. I have discovered that'iron possesses, to a highly marked degree, this aforementioned property of permitting a film of mercury to adhere to it in the presence of hydrogen gas, this condition obtaining throughout the life of the eontactor tube and even when subjected to excessively high currents. If hydrogen gas is replaced by carbon dioxide or nitrogen or other so-called neutral inert gases, I have found that the electrodes 2 and 3 do not become wetted by the mercu As a result, the electrical arcs instead 0 occurring between the body of mercury 10 and the mercury films adhering to the electrodes 2 and 3, as occurs when electrodes of suitable metal are employed in the presence of the hydro en 5, the arcs will occur between the b0 y o mercury 10 and 1d)? electrodes which will cause the elect es to become pitted, thus enhancing their disintegration with the consequent formingof a conducting scum which maydeposit on the interior walls of the contactor or otherwise affect its operation. Moreover, the arcing will not be suppressed and, co uently, further disintegration of the electr es is effected, as well as the generation of large quantities of heat that is dillicult to dissipate properly without destroying the glass tube or the seals for the leading-in wires 6 and 7.

It will be omerved that the electrodes 2 and 3 are of substantial concentrated mass in order to have sutlicicnt heat absorptive capacity and that their contacting surfaces are substantially large in area in order that mercury films of appreciable surface area may form upon them. I cannot explain the exact conditions that obtain within my contactor device which cause the mercury films to adhere to the surfaces of the electrodes 2 and 3, but I find that after an electric cir- .of deterioration of the electrodes.

cuit has been made and broken several times between the electrodes 2 and 3 and the body of mercury 10, films of mercury are formed upon the exposed surfaces of the electrodes and permanently adhere thereto. Sometimes these films are very thin and hardly discernible with the naked eye, but their ex istence is accounted for by. reason of the lack The make-and-breaks of the electric current, on subsequent actuations of my contactor device, are thereby effected always between the body of mercury 10 and the mercury films adhering to the electrodes 2 and 3.

The atmosphere of hydrogen contained within the contactor does not react chemically with the other materials which are exposed thereto and, consequently, no deposits are formed on the interior walls of the container even after the contactor has been in operation for a very considerable period of time. The hydrogen gas appears to suppress the arcs obtaining at the electrodes 2 and 3 and, in addition to this function, the hydrogen serves as a reducing agent for any of the water-vapor that may be contained within the tube, as well as any of the occluded gases that may be absorbed by the glass or the materials comprising the container and the electrodes.

I have discovered that hydrogen imparts u desirable function of preventing chemical desirable properties to my contactor device after extensive experiments and contrary to the usual theory concerning the inertness or the arcsuppressing property of hydrogen. Again hydrogen, by reason of its molecular mobility, serves to transfer at ayery high rate the heat that is developed by the arcing to the walls of the containerl. I am quite aware that hydrogen has been used in connection with the well known ballast resistors of Nernst lamps but this, of course, is not an equivalent use of hydrogen in electrical switching devices, such as my present contacton.

In filling the container} with hydrogen, or any other suitable inert gas possessing properties similar to those of hydrogen, the inert gas is preferably at a pressure of substantially one atmosphere in order to minimize the difference of pressures obtaining at the seals both exteriorly and interiorly of the container 1, but it will be apparent that other pressures as long as not below are suppressing pressure, may be entirely suitable depending upon the operating conditions. The hydrogen which I use is in a high degree of purity. Of course, it will be obvious that I may employ other inert gases, for instance, helium may be substituted for the hydrogen. At the present time, however, the employment of this latter gas is out of the question in view of the expense of producing it in commercial quantities and in the desired high state of purity. In the employment of hydrogen as the inert gas in my contactor, I realizethat it is done in direct contradiction to the usual practice and to the dictates of chemistry. Apparently it is the physical action of the hydrogen or other inert gas and the chemical inertness which assists in the production of the electrical contactor of my present invention.

To secure satisfactory results, the gases and materials enterinto the construction of contactor dev ces should be of substantial purity, such as is required of materials entering into the construction of highpowered gas-filled incandescent lamps.

\Vhile I have described but one embodiment of my invention it is obviously not limited to the particular apparatus here described but I contemplate the use of such a combination of conducting and insulating fluid in other connections employing electric arcs. This is especially true where devices are employed wherein a conducting agent is placed which may be volatilized by the passage of electrical current; in other words, I believe thatit is entirely novel to position within a contactor containingmercury, or analogous conducting fluids, a gas having such characterictics that although it would seem to explode under the influence of an electric current or an electric are, it does .not and, moreover, it performs the or physical reactions or combinations within the contactor which are conducive to deterioration thereby resulting in the failure of such devices.

When the conducting agent or mercury 10 is substantially chemically pure so as to cleanse it of any foreign substance which may impair the operating qualities or the 1 life of the contactor, I have found that nitrogen as the alleged inert gas, is very unsatisfactory because a chemical reaction between mercury and nitrogen obtains which results in the depositing of an electrical conducting coating on the interior surface of the contactor-and between the electrodes thus estahlishin an electrical b'y-pass between them. V ith the use of hydrogen this condition is eliminated and I am thus able to procure contactors which have an almost indefinite life, even when subjected to severe operating conditions and which are suitable for commercial operations and more dependable than other electrical ap- 12o paratus employed in commercial electrical switching devices.

The leading-in wires 6 and 7 are made of dumet wire which is the most satisfactory material to use commercially in connection with hermetically sealed glass containers. Dumet wire has an exterior cop er coating over a nickel-iron alloy wire and as a consequence thereof, it is essential to prevent exposure of the leading-in wires in the interior of the container 1, since copper under certain conditions may cause deterioration.- To eclude the exposure of the copper coating of the leading-in wires 6 and 7 I have embedded them in the glass shanks i and 5. The leading-in wires 6 and 7, in lieu of being protected by the glass shanks 4 and 5, may be coated with platinum or pure. iron which I have ascertained do not affect my contactor tube or cause it to deteriorate. However, it would be expensive to thus coat the leading-in wires 6 and 7 with inert metals and particularly platinum and, for this reason, I employ the glass shanks 4 and 5.

It is to be observed that the electrodes are adjacent to each other and at one end of the container, that the electric make-and: break is established and broken at the electrodes 2 and 3, that the container is in the form of an elongated cylinder, and that the freely movable meniscus of mercury 10 rides longitudinally of the cylindrical walls of the container with minimum frictional resistance and out of engagement with any thing except the smooth inner wall of the lass container. This is highly important. in order that my contactor tube may be tilted or actuated with a minimum expendi ture of energy and through a minimum tilting angle. It is apparent that each time the circuit is closed, the body of mercury 10 is moved into a position approximating that of Fig. 2, and when the circuit is opened, the body of mercury occupies a position approximating that shown in Fig. 1. Now, in order to move the mercury into circuitclosing and circuit-opening positions, the container 1 must be tilted. This tilting operation should be efi'ected with a minimum expenditure of energy and through a minimum an lar displacement, such as is capable of eing generated throu h the agency of a thermostatic element. have .found, by constructing the container 1 as shown and described herein, the body of mercury 10 may be moved at the expense of very little energy. This is accomplished by balancing my contactor about its middle portion so that by a slight tilting action in either direction the body of mercury may be moved correspondingly to effect the proper circuit connections or disconnections.

The meniscus of mercury 10 is abody which coalesces as a unit mass when the container 1 is tilted in either direction. When the container 1 occupies the position shown in Fig, 1, it will be noted that the mercury meniscus 10 is moved away from proximity of the electrodes 2 and 3 and occupies a position under the glass supporting shank 5. In 'the open circuit position of the contactor, the mercury meniscus 10 is, therefore, moved away from the electrodes 2 and 3 thereby maintaining the high insulating to each other through the body of mercury 10 which, of itself, is a. conducting medium. lVhen the mercury meniscus 10 is in open circuit position, as shown in Fig.1, the voltage applied to the electrodes 2 and 3; may be 0 a substantially high value such as obtains on commercial power circuits. As a result, my contactor device furnishes adequate insulating strength to the two sides of the circuit in which the contactor mtg be connected.

y tilting the contactor through a minimum angle, such as shown in Fig. 2, the meniscus of mercury 1.0 is. then moved to such a position that thespace between the electrodes 2 and 3 is bridged by the mercury thereby bringing these two electrodes into electrical conducting relation.

It will be observed that the electrode 2 is rounded off bluntly in order that the mercury meniscus 10, when receding from it as the switch moves to open circuit postion, may move with a minimum sticking action between the electrode 2 and the mercury. This allows the mercu to be moved to open circuit position wit a minimum tilting action of the switch.

The electrodes 2 and 3 are located cen-,

the electrodes 2 and 3 to be maintained without impairment by reason of the res ence of the mercury 10 within the container.

I desire, therefore, that my invention be considered in its broad aspects. and limited only by the showing of the rior art and by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the U. S. is

1. A tiltable electrical contactor for electric power circuits comprising an hermetically sealed tubular lass container, spaced electrodes formed a a substantially pure metal of the iron group disposed therein at one end thereof, leading-in of substantial current carrying capacity for said electrodes that are permanently hermetically sealed in said glass container, a freely movable meniscus of mercury ridin on the inner surface of said container an adapted to I bridge said electrodes when said container is titled to a redetermined angle, and an atmosphere 0? hydrogen within said container.

2. An electrical contactor device for electric power circuits and ssing a.com1nerically useful life, comprising an, hermetically sealed container, .a freely movable meniscus of mercury therein, substantially pure iron electrodes of substantial concentrated mass and surface area disposed in said container, leading-in wires of substantial current carrying capacity for said electrodes hermetically and ermanently sealed in the walls of said container, said leading-in wires being embedded in inert material to preclude their exposure within said container, and an atmosphere of hydrogen gas filling said container whereby said electrodes become wetted with adhering films of mercury when an electric current is made and broken between said electrodes and said body of mercury, said adhering films serving as the contact making area of the electrodes.

3. An electrical contactor device for electric power circuits and possessing a commercially useful life, comprising an hermetically sealed container, a. freely movable meniscus of mercury therein, electrodes composed of metal of the iron group disposed in said container, and an atmosphere of hydrogen in said container, the material composing the electrodes co-acting with the said gaseous filling in the presence of electric arcs to form adhering mercury films on the conducting surfaces of said electrodes whereby the electric current makes-and-breaks are established'between said bod of mercury and said adhering mercury filins.

4. An electrical contactor device for electric power circuits andpossessing a commercially useful life comprising an hermetically sealed container, a freely movable meniscus of mercury therein, electrodes composed of metal of the iron group disposed therein, relatively thin leading-in wires of substantial current carrying capacity for said electrodes and formin permanent hermetical seals in the walls of said container, said leadin -in wirescbeing protected from exposure wit in said container, and a gaseous filling of hydrogen for said container, the material composing said electrodes coasting with said gaseous filling whereby, in the presence of electric arcs established at said electrodes, adhering films of mercury are formed on th contacting surfaces of said electrodes, said adhering films serving as the active portions of said electrodes.

5. An electrical contactor device for electric power circuits and possessio a commercially useful life comprising an liermetically sealed container, a freely movable meniscus of mercury therein, an atmosphere of hydrogen filling said container, spaced iron electrodes disposed at one end in said container walls of said container;

6. In a contactor device for electric power circuits and possessing a commercially useful life, the combination with an hermetically sealed container, of iron electrodes disposed therein, a freely movable meniscus of mercury in said container serving to make and break an electric circuit between said electrodes, and a gaseous filling com rising hydrogen for the container, said fill ng coacting with said electrodes to form upon their contacting surfaces adhering mercury films whereby said electrodes are precluded from deteriorating when handling electric currents of higher values than similar electrodes in the absence of such a gaseous filling are capable of handling without undergoing deterioration.

7. A mercury electricswitch comprising a tubular glass container that is hermetically sealed and from which atmospheric air has been substantially exhausted, an atmosphere comprising hydrogen filling said container, adjacent cooperating electrodes located centrally of the axis of the tubular container and at one end thereof, each of said electrodes being made of substantially pure iron having a substantial concentrated mass an an exposed contact-making surface of large expanse, leading-in wires of substantial current-carr ing capacity severally connected to said e ectrodes and forming permanently hermetic seals in the wall of said glass container and serving as means for conducting electric current to said electrodes, each leading-in wire being covered with inert material to preclude its exposure within the said glass container, and a freely movable menis,

cus of mercury riding with minimum frictional resistance on the inner surface of said tubular glass container whereby the electric circuit through the switch may be made and broken at said electrodes by tilting the switch through a minimum angle, said meniscus of mercury occupying a osition rembte from the electrodes when t e switch is in open circuit position.

8. A mercury electric switch comprising a tubular glass container that is hermetically sealed, cooperating electrodes of substantial concentrated mass and contact-making area located centrally of the axis of said contain er, a freely movable meniscus of mercury riding unobstructedly on the lower inner surface of said container whereby the electric circuit may be made and broken at said electrodes by said mercury meniscus, one of said electrodesbeing rounded and project ing vertically downwardly into said mercury meniscus when it occupies circuit-closing position, and leading-in wires severally sealed in the wall of said container and connected to said electrodes, the leading-in wire for said vertical electrode being surrounded with a glass shank integral with the wall of said container and abutting said electrode to preclude exposure of said leading-in wire within the container and the leading-in wire for the other electrode being embedded in inert material to preclude its exposure within said container.

9. In an electrical contactor device for electric power circuits, a sealed container, electrodes positioned within said container, an atmosphere comprising hydrogen gas filling said container, and a body of mercury movable to make and break the circuit between said electrodes, the latter being com posed of a metal that is substantially nonamalgamating with said mercury, upon the passage of an electric arc, said device being;

substantially non-deteriorating by reason of the inter-action of the mercury, said atmosphere and said metal electrodes.

10. In an electrical contactor device, a

sealed container, iron electrodes positioned therein, an atmosphere comprising hydrogen gas filling said container, and a body of mercury movable to make and break the circuit between said electrodes, the action of said atmosphere and iron being such that the electrodes are substantially non-deteriorating upon the passage of an electric are.

11. An electrical contactor comprising an elongated hermetically sealed container of insulating material, a quantity of mercury in said container adapted to ride back and forth on the inner surface of the container and lengthwise thereof when the container is tilted in opposite directions past a horizontal position, electrical conductors composed of metal of the iron group within the container in position to cooperate with the mercury to open and close the electric circuit through said contactor upon the tilting of the latter, and an atmosphere of hydrogen in the container, the actlon of the said atmosphere, the mercury and said electrical conductors being such that the contact/unis substantially non-deteriorating.

12. An electrical contactor comprising an elongated hermetically sealed container, 8. quantity of mercury in said container adapted to ride back and forth on the inner surface of the container and lengthwise thereof when the container is tilted in opposite directions past a horizontal position, leadin in wires extending through the wall of said container and being of a material to provide substantially permanent hermetic seals therein, electrical conductors comprising a metal of the iron group at the inner ends of said leading-in wires and being positioned to cooperate with the mercury to open and close the electric circuit through the contactor upon tilting it, and an atmosphere comprising hydrogen filling the said container.

13. An electrical contactor comprising a hermetically sealed container, electrical conductors hermetically sealedin said container and severally terminating into an exposed portion within the container that is composed of a metal of the iron group, said exposed portions cooperating with the mercury to open and close the electric circuit through said contactor when tilted, an atmosphere comprising hydrogen gas filling said container, a quantity of mercury contained within said container and which contacts with said electrical conductors to open and close the electric circuit through said contactor, the action of said atmosphere, the mercury and said electrical conductors being such that the contactor is substantially non-deteriorating.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LOUIS A. M. PHELAN.

said electrodesbeing rounded and projecting vertically downwardly into said mer cury meniscus when it occupies circuit-closing position, and leading-in wires severally sealed in the wall of said container and connected to said electrodes, the leading-in wire for said vertical electrode bein surrounded with a glass shank integral wit the wall of passage of an electric arc, said device being.

substantially non-deteriorating by reason of the inter-action of the mercury, said atmosphere and said metal electrodes.

10. In an electrical contactor device, a sealed container, iron electrodes positioned therein, an atmosphere comprisin hydrogen gas filling said container, an a body of mercury movable to make and break the circuit between said electrodes, the action of said atmosphere and iron being such that the electrodes are substantially non-deteriorating upon the passage of an electric are.

11. An electrical contactor comprising an elongated hermetically sealed container of insulating 'material, a quantity of mercury in said container adapted to ride back and forth on the inner surface of the container and lengthwise thereof when thecontainer is tilted in opposite directions past a horizontal position, electrical conductors composed of metal of the iron group within the container in position to cooperate with the mercury to open and close the electric circuit through said contactor upon the tilting of the latter, and an atmosphere of hydrogen in the container, the action of the said at mosphere, the mercury and said electrical conductors being such that the contactor: is substantially non-deteriorating.

12. An electrical contactor comprising an elongated hermetically sealed container, a quantity of mercury in said container adap'ted to ride back and forth on the inner surface of the container and lengthwise thereof when the container is tilted in opposite directions past a horizontal position, leadin in wires extending through the wall of said container and being of a material to provide substantially permanent hermetic seals therein, electrical conductors comprising a metal of the iron group at the inner ends of said lending-in wires and being positioned to cooperate with the mercury to open and close the electric circuit through the contactor upon tilting it, and an atmosphere comprising hydrogen filling the said container.

13. An electrical contactor comprising a hermetically sealed container, electrical conductors hermetically sealed in said container and severally terminating into an exposed portion within the container that is composed of a metal of the iron group, said exposed portions cooperating with the mercury to open and close the electric circuit throng said contactor when tilted, an atmosphere comprising hydrogen gas filling said container, a quantity of mercury contained within said container and which contacts with said electrical conductors to open and close the electric circuit through said contactor, the action of said atmosphere, the mercury and said electrical conductors being such that the contactor is substantially non-deteriorating.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LOUIS A. M. PHELAN.

r Certificate. of Correction. M It isxhereby certified that in Letters Patent. No. 1,5985: 15, granted September 7,

1926, u pon the application of Louis A; M. Phelan, of

eloit, Wisconsin; for an improvement in Electrical Ap aratus, errors ap er in the printed specification requiring correction as follows:

age 4, lines 17 an 18, strike out the words other materials which are exposed thereto and insert instead the words irop electrodes 07 the mercury or the glass should he nsertcd drt' lieu thereof; page 5, line 68, for the word occupied readccwpies; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same maymonform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 2d day of November, A. D. 1926.

WM. A. KINNAN Acting Uommissiomr of Patents,

DISCLAIMER 1,598,874.*-L0uis A. M. Phelan, Beloit Wis. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. Patent dated September 7, 1926. Disclaimer filed May 29, 1936, by the assignee of one-half interest, Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company.

Hereby disclaims, to the extent solely and only of the one-half interest possessed by it, claims 9, 11 12 and 13.

azu 0610b" 20, 1936.]

DISCLAIMER 1,598,874.L0u's A. M. Phelan, Beloit, Wis. Etmc'rmcsn APPARATUS. Patent dated September 7, 1926. Disclaimer filed February 26, 1937, by the assignee of one-half interest, drcless Contact Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the extent solely and only of its undivided onehalf part of the whole right, title and interest possessed by it to claims 9, 11, 12, and 13 in said specification.

0mm Gazette March so, 1937 Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,5985 4;, granted Septe nber 7, 1926. upon the application of Louis A. M. Phelan, of eloit, Wisconsin, for an improvement in Electrical Ap aratus, errors up anin the printed specification requiring correction as follows: age 4, lines 17 an 1 8, strike out the words other materials which are exposed thereto and insert instead the words iron electrodes 04" the mercwy or the glass .s'lwuld he insertedwln lieu tlwreof; page 5, line 68, for the word occupied read occupies; and that-the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same mayiconform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice Signed and sealed this 2d day of November. A. 1). 192 6.

[SEAL] WM. A. KINNAN,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

DISCLAIMER 1,598,874.-Lou1'.s A. M. Phelan, Beloit, Wis. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. Patent dated September 7, 1926. Disclaimer filed May 29, 1936, by the assignee of one-half interest, Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company.

Hereby disclaims, to the extent solely and only of the one-half interest, possessed by it, claims 9, 11- 12 and 13.

[Qflicial azelte October 20, 1.9861] DISCLAIMER 1,598,874.Lowis A. M. Phelan, Beloit, Wis. ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. Patent dated September 7, 1926. Disclaimer filed February 26, 1937, by the assignee of one-ha1f interest, {ircless 00mm Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to the extent solely and only of its undivided onehal f part of the whole right, title and interest possessed by it to claims 9, ll, 12, and

13 m said specification.

[Oficial Gazette March 30, 1.957] 

